Generation of media station previews using a secondary tuner

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, an example method includes (i) while a media playback device of a vehicle is playing back content received on a first channel, generating, by the media playback device, a query fingerprint using second content received on a second channel; (ii) sending, by the media playback device, the query fingerprint to a server that maintains a reference database containing a plurality of reference fingerprints; (iii) receiving, by the media playback device from the server, identifying information corresponding to a reference fingerprint of the plurality of reference fingerprints that matches the query fingerprint; and (iv) while the media playback device is playing back the first content received on the first channel, providing, by the media playback device for display, at least a portion of the identifying information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent App. No.62/788,604, filed on Jan. 4, 2019, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

USAGE AND TERMINOLOGY

In this disclosure, unless otherwise specified and/or unless theparticular context clearly dictates otherwise, the terms “a” or “an”mean at least one, and the term “the” means the at least one.

In this disclosure, the term “connection mechanism” means a mechanismthat facilitates communication between two or more components, devices,systems, or other entities. A connection mechanism can be a relativelysimple mechanism, such as a cable or system bus, or a relatively complexmechanism, such as a packet-based communication network (e.g., theInternet). In some instances, a connection mechanism can include anon-tangible medium (e.g., in the case where the connection iswireless).

In this disclosure, the term “computing system” means a system thatincludes at least one computing device. In some instances, a computingsystem can include one or more other computing systems.

BACKGROUND

Some media playback devices can display identifying information forcontent being played back on a channel while the content is being playedback. For instance, while a radio is playing a song, a user interface ofthe radio can display textual information identifying a title, artist,and album of the song.

A communications protocol referred to as Radio Data System (RDS) allowsbroadcasters to send identifying information to radios through analogradio waves. Some radio stations transmit audio and other informationusing digital technology. Transmitting audio and other information overa digital signal allows a radio station to transmit additional types ofidentifying information, such as album images and artist images. A radiothat is capable of receiving digital signals can display a receivedimage that is associated with a song while the radio plays the song.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, an example method is disclosed. The method includes (i)while a media playback device is playing back first content received ona first channel, generating, by the media playback device, a queryfingerprint using second content received on a second channel; (ii)sending, by the media playback device, the query fingerprint to a serverthat maintains a reference database containing a plurality of referencefingerprints; (iii) receiving, by the media playback device from theserver, identifying information corresponding to a reference fingerprintof the plurality of reference fingerprints that matches the queryfingerprint; and (iv) while the media playback device is playing backthe first content received on the first channel, providing, by the mediaplayback device for display, at least a portion of the identifyinginformation.

In another aspect, an example non-transitory computer-readable medium isdisclosed. The computer-readable medium has stored thereon programinstructions that upon execution by a processor, cause performance of aset of acts including (i) while a media playback device is playing backfirst content received on a first channel, generating a queryfingerprint using second content received on a second channel; (ii)sending the query fingerprint to a server that maintains a referencedatabase containing a plurality of reference fingerprints; (iii)receiving, from the server, identifying information corresponding to areference fingerprint of the plurality of reference fingerprints thatmatches the query fingerprint; and (iv) while the media playback deviceis playing back the first content received on the first channel,providing at least a portion of the identifying information for display.

In another aspect, an example computing system is disclosed. Thecomputing system is configured for performing a set of acts including(i) while a media playback device is playing back first content receivedon a first channel, generating a query fingerprint using second contentreceived on a second channel; (ii) sending the query fingerprint to aserver that maintains a reference database containing a plurality ofreference fingerprints; (iii) receiving, from the server, identifyinginformation corresponding to a reference fingerprint of the plurality ofreference fingerprints that matches the query fingerprint; and (iv)while the media playback device is playing back the first contentreceived on the first channel, providing at least a portion of theidentifying information for display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing device.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example media preview system.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating components of apreview server and a media playback device, according to an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example display provided by a media playbackdevice.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Overview

Currently, while a media playback device of a vehicle is playing backcontent received on a first channel, it is difficult to know whatcontent is being provided on other channels that are different from thefirst channel without tuning away from the first channel. For instance,when listening to content being played back on a first channel by aradio, it is difficult to know what content is being provided on otherchannels that are different from the first channel without tuning awayfrom the first channel. Similarly, when a user is not interested incontent that a media playback device is playing back on a first channel,it is difficult for the user to find content on another channel that theuser is interested in without successively tuning in to multiplechannels. When searching for different content, the user might not knowwhat content is being provided on another channel before the user tunesin to the channel.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems to address this and potentiallyother issues. In an example method, while a media playback device isplaying back first content received on a first channel, the mediaplayback device can generate a query fingerprint using second contentreceived on a second channel. The media playback device can then sendthe query fingerprint to a server that maintains a reference databasecontaining a plurality of reference fingerprints. Further, the mediaplayback device can receive, from the server, identifying informationcorresponding to a reference fingerprint of the plurality of referencefingerprints that matches the query fingerprint. The media playbackdevice can then provide at least a portion of the identifyinginformation for display. In this manner, while the media playback deviceis playing back the first content received on the first channel, adisplay can provide an indication of the second content that is beingprovided on the second channel, so that a user of the media playbackdevice can decide whether to tune away from the first channel and to thesecond channel.

While portions of this disclosure refer to media playback devices thatare located in vehicles, the examples are not meant to be limiting. Thesystems and methods disclosed herein are also applicable to mediaplayback devices that are not located in vehicles, such as portablemedia playback devices and media playback devices that are located inhomes, offices, or other buildings.

In addition, while portions of this disclosure refer to media playbackdevices that provide audio content, the examples are not meant to belimiting. The systems and methods are also applicable to media playbackdevices that provide video content.

II. Example Architecture

A. Computing Device

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing device 100.Computing device 100 can perform various acts and/or functions, such asthose described in this disclosure. Computing device 100 can includevarious components, such as processor 102, data storage unit 104,communication interface 106, and/or user interface 108. These componentscan be connected to each other (or to another device, system, or otherentity) via connection mechanism 110.

Processor 102 can include a general-purpose processor (e.g., amicroprocessor) and/or a special-purpose processor (e.g., a digitalsignal processor (DSP)).

Data storage unit 104 can include one or more volatile, non-volatile,removable, and/or non-removable storage components, such as magnetic,optical, or flash storage, and/or can be integrated in whole or in partwith processor 102. Further, data storage unit 104 can take the form ofa non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereonprogram instructions (e.g., compiled or non-compiled program logicand/or machine code) that, when executed by processor 102, causecomputing device 100 to perform one or more acts and/or functions, suchas those described in this disclosure. As such, computing device 100 canbe configured to perform one or more acts and/or functions, such asthose described in this disclosure. Such program instructions can defineand/or be part of a discrete software application. In some instances,computing device 100 can execute program instructions in response toreceiving an input, such as from communication interface 106 and/or userinterface 108. Data storage unit 104 can also store other types of data,such as those types described in this disclosure.

Communication interface 106 can allow computing device 100 to connect toand/or communicate with another entity according to one or moreprotocols. In one example, communication interface 106 can be a wiredinterface, such as an Ethernet interface or a high-definitionserial-digital-interface (HD-SDI). In another example, communicationinterface 106 can be a wireless interface, such as a cellular or WI-FIinterface. In this disclosure, a connection can be a direct connectionor an indirect connection, the latter being a connection that passesthrough and/or traverses one or more entities, such as a router,switcher, or other network device. Likewise, in this disclosure, atransmission can be a direct transmission or an indirect transmission.

User interface 108 can facilitate interaction between computing device100 and a user of computing device 100, if applicable. As such, userinterface 108 can include input components such as a keyboard, a keypad,a mouse, a touch-sensitive panel, a microphone, and/or a camera, and/oroutput components such as a display device (which, for example, can becombined with a touch-sensitive panel), a sound speaker, and/or a hapticfeedback system. More generally, user interface 108 can include hardwareand/or software components that facilitate interaction between computingdevice 100 and the user of the computing device 100.

B. Media Preview System

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example media preview system200. Media preview system 200 can perform various acts and/or functionsrelated to the delivery and/or presentation of identifying informationfor media content (e.g., audio content and/or video content), and can beimplemented as a computing system.

Media preview system 200 can include various components, such as avehicle 210, content source 220, and preview server 230. Vehicle 210can, in turn, include a media playback device 212. Each of mediaplayback device 212 and preview server 230 can be implemented as acomputing system.

Vehicle 210 can be a machine that transports people, such as anautomobile, motorcycle, watercraft, or aircraft, for instance. Mediaplayback device 212 of vehicle 210 can include at least one computingdevice and can take various forms. By way of example, media playbackdevice 212 can include a head unit of vehicle 210. The head unit caninclude a display and a user interface that provide a user of vehicle210 with control over media content presented by vehicle 210. AlthoughFIG. 2 depicts media playback device 212 as being located in vehicle210, in other media preview systems, a media playback device might notbe located in a vehicle. For instance, other examples of media playbackdevices include radios, televisions, smart speakers, and smart displays.

Media playback device 212 can receive audio content, video content,and/or text content from content source 220, and can receive thiscontent either directly from content source 220 or indirectly by way ofa network 240. Content source 220 can include a radio station,television station, or web server. For example, content source 220 maybe a radio station or radio network that streams or transmits audio overa channel to media playback device 212, a television (TV) station or TVnetwork that streams or transmits media over a channel to media playbackdevice 212, and/or a web service that streams or transmits media overnetwork 270 to media playback device 212.

Accordingly, media playback device 212 can include at least one tunerconfigured to receive an input stream of media content and generate anoutput stream of media content by processing the input stream. Mediaplayback device 212 can be equipped with tuners, decoders, and otherhardware and/or software such that media playback device 212 can accessmedia content that is broadcast by content source 220. Additionally oralternatively, media playback device 212 can be equipped with networkadapters, decoders, and other hardware and/or software such that mediaplayback device 212 can access media content that is distributed througha wide area network (e.g., the internet).

Media playback device 212 can also include a display or other userinterface configured to display identifying information corresponding tomedia content being provided on one or more respective channels. Thedisplay may be a flat-panel screen, a plasma screen, a light emittingdiode (LED) screen, or a liquid crystal display (LCD), for instance.

In line with the discussion above, while media playback device 212 isplaying back content received on a first channel, media playback device212 can send a preview request to preview server 230. The previewrequest can include a query fingerprint that is generated by mediaplayback device 212 using second content received on a second channel.By way of example, media playback device 212 can be playing back audiocontent received on a given radio station, and generate a queryfingerprint using audio content that is received on a second radiostation. Media playback device 212 can then send the query fingerprintto preview server 230 within a preview request. As another example,media playback device 212 can be playing back video content received ona first channel, generate a query fingerprint using video contentreceived on a second channel, and send the query fingerprint to previewserver 230 in a preview request.

Media playback device 212 can periodically transmit preview requests topreview server 230. For instance, media playback device 212 can send apreview request every five or ten seconds, or every minute. In someinstances, a preview request can include query fingerprintscorresponding to a batch of second channels. For instance, for each ofmultiple channels other than the first channel, the preview request caninclude a respective query fingerprint generated from content recentlyreceived on the channel.

Preview server 230 can maintain a reference database that includes aplurality of reference fingerprints. The reference database canassociate each reference fingerprint of the plurality of referencefingerprints with identifying information for respective media contentfrom which the reference fingerprint was generated.

The identifying information that is associated with a referencefingerprint can take various forms. For example, the identifyinginformation can include a media unique identifier (e.g., a track uniqueidentifier (TUI)). For audio content, the identifying information caninclude a track title, album title, and artist name. Additionally oralternatively, the identifying information can include an album image(e.g., cover art) or artist image. The identifying information can alsoinclude a program identifier that identifies an audio program.Similarly, for video content, the identifying information can include atitle and a program identifier that identifies a video program. In someexamples, the reference database can include the identifying informationfor respective reference fingerprints that the reference databasemaintains. Additionally or alternatively, the reference database caninclude identifiers for respective fingerprints that the referencedatabase maintains. With this approach, an identifier from the referencedatabase can be used to retrieve identifying information correspondingto a reference fingerprint.

After receiving the preview request, preview server 230 can query thereference database to correlate each of one or more query fingerprintsto a reference fingerprint, determine identifying informationcorresponding to the reference fingerprint(s), and provide at least aportion of the identifying information to media playback device 212 in aresponse.

After receiving the response, media playback device 212 can provide atleast a portion of the identifying information for display. Mediaplayback device 212 can provide for display identifying informationcorresponding to content being provided on one or more second channelswhile the media playback device is playing back content that is receivedon a first channel.

Additionally or alternatively, media playback device 212 can provide atleast a portion of the identifying information to another device fordisplay. For instance, media playback device 212 can provide a portionof the identifying information to another component of vehicle 210 fordisplay.

Network 240 may be any network that enables communication betweendevices, such as a wired network and/or a wireless network (e.g., amobile network).

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating components of mediaplayback device 212 and preview server 230. As shown in FIG. 3, mediaplayback device 212 includes a first tuner 213, second tuner 214,request generator 215, query fingerprint generator 216, local database217, and user interface 218, all configured to communicate with eachother (e.g., via a bus, shared memory, or switch). Further, previewserver 230 includes a preview generator 232, identification module 234,and reference database 236, all configured to communicate with eachother.

One or more of the components depicted in FIG. 3 can be implementedusing hardware (e.g., a processor of a machine, a field-programmablegate array (FPGA), or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC),or a combination of hardware and software. Moreover, any two or more ofthe components depicted in FIG. 3 can be combined into a singlecomponent, and the function described herein for a single component canbe subdivided among multiple components.

In line with the discussion above, media playback 212 device can receivefirst content on a first channel using first tuner 213. First tuner 213can include a radio frequency (RF) receiver that is adjustable in orderto receive a desired carrier frequency that the first channel uses tobroadcast the first content. First tuner 213 can receive a transmissionon the first channel, and convert the transmission into a fixedfrequency that is suitable for further processing by a demodulator andan amplifier. Alternatively, first tuner 213 can receive a transmissionon the first channel, and convert the transmission into audio and/orvideo signals that can be output by media playback device 212.

Similarly, second tuner can include an RF receiver that is adjustable inorder to receive a desired carrier frequency that the second channeluses to broadcast the second content. After tuning to the secondchannel, media playback device 212 can obtain a sample of the secondcontent.

While media playback device 212 is playing back content received on afirst channel, request generator 215 of media playback device 212 cangenerate a preview request and provide the preview request to previewserver 230. The preview request can include query fingerprints for oneor more second channels that are different from the first channel.

Obtaining the query fingerprint(s) can involve tuning to one or moresecond channels using second tuner 214, and, for each of the one or moresecond channels, obtaining a sample of second content that is providedon the second channel. For instance, while media playback device 212 isplaying back first content received on the first channel, requestgenerator 215 can cause second tuner 214 to tune to a second channelthat is different from the first channel, and receive and record aportion of the second content.

Request generator 215 can select the second channel(s) in various ways.As one example, request generator 215 can select the second channelsbased on a characteristic of the first channel. For instance, based onthe first channel being associated with a first genre (e.g., blues,jazz, country, etc.), request generator 215 can select channels that arealso associated with the first genre. As another example, requestgenerator 215 can select the second channels based on channels that areprogrammed as presets of media playback device 212.

As still another example, request generator 215 can select as the secondchannels one or more other channels that are located within a frequencyrange or channel range of the first channel. For instance, requestgenerator 215 can scan for available channels using second tuner 214,and then select the next two available channels that are above the firstchannel and the next two available channels that are below the firstchannel. If the first channel is assigned to a frequency of 98.1megahertz (MHz), request generator 215 could select second channelsassigned to frequencies of 96.9 MHz, 97.3 MHz, 98.9 MHz, and 99.5 MHzbased on those channels being the available channels that are adjacentto the first channel in a particular geographic area. Or if the firstchannel is channel 124, request generator 215 could select channels 122,123, 125, and 126.

For each second channel to be represented within the preview request,request generator 215 can obtain a sample of the second content, andprovide the sample to query fingerprint generator 216 for generation ofa query fingerprint. In some instances, the query fingerprint for asample of media content can include multiple fingerprints derived fromthe sample, such as multiple fingerprints derived from a three-secondsample of audio content.

In examples in which the received content is audio content, queryfingerprint generator 216 can be configured to distinguish between musicand speech using a classifier. The classifier can include softwareconfigured to receive an input audio signal, and classify the inputaudio signal as either speech or music based on characteristics of thesample of media content. The classifier may utilize any characteristicsof an input audio signal to classify the input audio signal. Forexample, the classifier may use spectral characteristics of the inputaudio signal, constant Q transform (CQT) characteristics for the inputaudio signal, or any other parameters. In some examples, time samples,spectrogram(s), summaries, transformations, and/or descriptions of theaudio signal are used as inputs to the classifier. Such characteristicsmay be input into a neural network model to determine a classificationgroup for the input audio signal.

Upon determining that a sample of media content is speech rather thanmusic, query fingerprint generator 216 can cause request generator 215to obtain another sample of media content. Whereas, upon determiningthat a sample of media content is music rather than speech, queryfingerprint generator 216 can generate a query fingerprint from thesample based on the determination that the sample is music rather thanspeech.

Upon receiving the preview request, preview generator 232 of previewserver 230 can retrieve identifying information corresponding to thequery fingerprint(s) included within the preview request, and providethe identifying information to media playback device 212 in an outputresponse. To retrieve identifying information corresponding to a queryfingerprint, identification module 234 can correlate the queryfingerprint to a reference fingerprint of reference database 236.

For instance, identification module 234 can compare the queryfingerprint to reference fingerprints of reference database 236, anddetermine that the query fingerprint matches at least one referencefingerprint. Determining that the query fingerprint matches at least onereference fingerprint can involve determining that a similarity betweenthe query fingerprint and at least one of the reference fingerprintssatisfies a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold can beassociated with a Tanimoto distance measurement, a Manhattan distancemeasurement, or other distance measurements. Broadcast monitoring server240 a can also use other matching techniques, such as Euclidian, Cosine,KL-Divergence, and/or Itakura matching techniques, to match the queryfingerprint to at least one known reference fingerprint.

After determining that a query fingerprint of the preview requestcorresponds to a reference fingerprint of reference database 236,identification module 234 can then determine identifying informationcorresponding to the reference fingerprint, and provide the identifyinginformation to preview generator 232 for inclusion in the outputresponse. In some instances, reference database 236 can store referencefingerprints and respective identifying information for the referencefingerprints in reference database 236. Additionally or alternatively,reference database 236 can store reference fingerprints and respectiveidentifiers that can be used to access identifying informationcorresponding to the reference fingerprints. For instance, for one ormore reference fingerprints, reference database 236 may associate thereference fingerprint with a unique identifier. The unique identifiercan be used to retrieve identifying information that is associated withthe reference fingerprint from a separate database.

The reference fingerprints and associated identifying information ofreference database 236 can be updated periodically (e.g., once per day,every week, etc.). For instance, preview server 230 may periodicallyreceive new reference fingerprints and associated identifyinginformation, and add the reference fingerprints and associatedidentifying information to reference database 236. Similarly, previewserver 230 may periodically receive new reference fingerprints andassociated unique identifiers, and add the reference fingerprints andassociated identifying information to reference database 236.

After obtaining the identifying information, preview generator 232 cangenerate an output response that includes identifying information forthe channels from which the query fingerprint(s) were derived, andprovide the output response to media playback device 212. The outputresponse can be in the form of text data, such as a listing of channelsand corresponding identifying information. The identifying informationcan include one or more links to image data, such as a link to album artor a link to an image of a song artist or an image of a program host.

In some examples, preview generator 232 might not be able to retrieveidentifying information for a query fingerprint included in the previewrequest. Upon determining that identifying information for a queryfingerprint is unavailable, the preview generator 232 can add the queryfingerprint to a list or increment a count associated with the queryfingerprint. This data regarding how often identifying information for aquery fingerprint is requested but unavailable can be stored by previewserver 230 and, upon request, can be provided to another system.

Upon receiving the output response, media playback device 212 can storethe identifying information for the channels in local database 217 ofmedia playback device 212. Media playback device 212 can display aportion of the identifying information using user interface 218. Forexample, media playback device 212 can display respective identifyinginformation for multiple channels in respective user interface elements(e.g., respective tiles) corresponding to each channel of the multiplechannels. The identifying information can be displayed in a now-playingguide that is accessible via user interface 218. In some instances, theidentifying information can be displayed adjacent to identifyinginformation for the first channel. Alternatively, when the identifyinginformation is displayed, identifying information for the first channelmight not be visible within user interface 218.

In some instances, upon receiving a preview request, preview generator232 can also select an advertisement, and send the advertisement tomedia playback device 212 within the output response. Media playbackdevice 212 can then provide the advertisement for display whendisplaying identifying information that is included within the outputresponse. An owner of an item of media content or a third party may paya fee to associate an advertisement with the item. With thisarrangement, preview generator 232 can determine that an item of mediacontent that is playing on a channel has an associated advertisement andthat identifying information for the item of media content will beprovided to media playback device 212 in an output response. Based onmaking this determination, preview generator 232 can include theadvertisement in the output response, for display in conjunction withthe identifying information.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example display 400 that a media playback device,such as media playback device 212, can provide. As shown in FIG. 4,display 400 includes four identification elements 402, 406, 410, and 414corresponding to four respective identifying-information tiles 404, 408,412, 416. Each of the identification elements 402, 406, 410, and 414displays data indicative of a respective channel. The data indicative ofa respective channel can, for example, include a frequency, channelname, channel identifier (e.g., call sign), genre, and/or channel logo.

Further, each of the identifying-information tiles 404, 408, 412, and416 displays identifying information for content being provided on acorresponding channel. In particular, identifying-information tile 404displays identifying information for content being provided on a firstchannel identified by identification element 402,identifying-information tile 408 displays identifying information forcontent being provided on a second channel identified by identificationelement 406, identifying-information tile 412 displays identifyinginformation for content being provided on a third channel identified byidentification element 410, and identifying-information tile 416displays identifying information for content being provided on a fourthchannel identified by identification element 414. Hence, display 400 mayallow a user of the media playback device to visually browse what'splaying across multiple channels, thereby simplifying media contentsearch and discovery.

For the display 400, the fourth channel is the currently selectedchannel. In other words, the media playback device displaysidentification elements 402, 406, 410, and 414 andidentifying-information tiles 404, 408, 412, and 416 while the mediaplayback device is playing back content that is received on the fourthchannel. To notify a user that media playback device is playing backcontent that is received on the fourth channel, data indicative of thefourth channel and identifying information for the content beingprovided on the fourth channel is displayed in a current-channel element418.

Further, each identification element 402, 406, 410, and 414 and/or eachidentifying-information tile 404, 408, 412, and 416 may be selectable bya user of the media playback device. For instance, a user can selectidentification element 402 or identifying-information tile 404 to causethe media playback device to switch from tuning to the fourth channeltune to tuning to the first channel.

In other examples, the media playback device might be playing backcontent that is received on a fifth channel that is different from eachof the first channel, second channel, third channel, and fourth channel.With this approach, data indicative of the fifth channel and identifyinginformation for the content being provided on the fifth channel can bedisplayed in the current-channel element 418 (not shown).

As further shown in FIG. 4, display 400 can optionally include anadvertisement 420. The advertisement may include text and/or an image,for instance. The advertisement may have been provided to the mediaplayback device along with the identifying information that is beingdisplayed in the identifying-information tiles 404, 408, 412, and 416.

III. Example Operations

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example method 500. Method 500 can becarried out by a media playback device, such as media playback device212 or more generally, by a computing system. At block 502, method 500includes while a media playback device is playing back first contentreceived on a first channel, generating, by the media playback device, aquery fingerprint using second content received on a second channel. Atblock 504, method 500 includes sending, by the media playback device,the query fingerprint to a server that maintains a reference databasecontaining a plurality of reference fingerprints. At block 506, method500 includes receiving, by the media playback device from the server,identifying information corresponding to a reference fingerprint of theplurality of reference fingerprints that matches the query fingerprint.And at block 508, method 500 includes while the media playback device isplaying back the first content received on the first channel, providing,by the media playback device for display, at least a portion of theidentifying information.

IV. Example Variations

Although some of the acts and/or functions described in this disclosurehave been described as being performed by a particular entity, the actsand/or functions can be performed by any entity, such as those entitiesdescribed in this disclosure. Further, although the acts and/orfunctions have been recited in a particular order, the acts and/orfunctions need not be performed in the order recited. However, in someinstances, it can be desired to perform the acts and/or functions in theorder recited. Further, each of the acts and/or functions can beperformed responsive to one or more of the other acts and/or functions.Also, not all of the acts and/or functions need to be performed toachieve one or more of the benefits provided by this disclosure, andtherefore not all of the acts and/or functions are required.

Although certain variations have been discussed in connection with oneor more examples of this disclosure, these variations can also beapplied to all of the other examples of this disclosure as well.

Although select examples of this disclosure have been described,alterations and permutations of these examples will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art. Other changes, substitutions, and/oralterations are also possible without departing from the invention inits broader aspects as set forth in the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: while a media playbackdevice is playing back first content received on a first channel andbroadcast by a first radio station, generating, by the media playbackdevice, query fingerprints corresponding to a batch of second channels,wherein the query fingerprints corresponding to the batch of secondchannels include a first query fingerprint generated using secondcontent received on a second channel and broadcast by a second radiostation and a second query fingerprint generated using third contentreceived on a third channel and broadcast by a third radio station;sending, by the media playback device, a preview request to a serverthat maintains a reference database containing a plurality of referencefingerprints, wherein the preview request includes the queryfingerprints corresponding to the batch of second channels; receiving,by the media playback device from the server, first identifyinginformation corresponding to a first reference fingerprint of theplurality of reference fingerprints that matches the first queryfingerprint and second identifying information corresponding to a secondreference fingerprint of the plurality of reference fingerprints thatmatches the second query fingerprint; and while the media playbackdevice is playing back the first content received on the first channel,providing, by the media playback device for display, at least a portionof the first identifying information and at least a portion of thesecond identifying information.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst content received on the first channel is audio content.
 3. Themethod of claim 1: wherein the first content is received using a firsttuner of the media playback device, and wherein the method furthercomprises receiving the second content using a second tuner of the mediaplayback device.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising selecting,by the media playback device, the batch of second channels from among aplurality of channels.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprisingscanning for available channels using the second tuner so as todetermine the plurality of channels.
 6. The method of claim 4, whereinthe plurality of channels are channels that are programmed as presets ofthe media playback device.
 7. The method of claim 4: wherein the firstchannel is associated with a first genre, and wherein the batch ofsecond channels is selected based on the batch of second channels beingassociated with the first genre.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereingenerating the query fingerprints comprises: determining, using aclassifier, that the second content comprises music rather than speech;and generating the second query fingerprint based on the determiningthat the second content comprises music rather than speech.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first identifying information comprises amedia unique identifier.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstidentifying information comprises a track title, album title, and artistname.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first identifyinginformation comprises a program identifier.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein the first identifying information comprises a link to an image.13. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the at least a portion ofthe first identifying information for display comprises providing the atleast a portion of the first identifying information for display on auser interface of the media playback device.
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein providing the at least a portion of the first identifyinginformation for display comprises providing the at least a portion ofthe first identifying information for display in association with anidentifier of the second channel, and wherein providing the at least aportion of the second identifying information for display comprisesproviding the at least a portion of the second identifying informationfor display in association with an identifier of the third channel. 15.The method of claim 1, wherein the media playback device is a mediaplayback device of a vehicle.
 16. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving, by the media playback device from the server, anadvertisement corresponding to the first reference fingerprint; andproviding, by the media playback device for display, the advertisement.17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereonprogram instructions that upon execution by a processor, causeperformance of a set of acts comprising: while a media playback deviceis playing back first content received on a first channel and broadcastby a first radio station, generating query fingerprints corresponding toa batch of second channels, wherein the query fingerprints correspondingto the batch of second channels include a first query fingerprintgenerated using second content received on a second channel andbroadcast by a second radio station and a second query fingerprintgenerated using third content received on a third channel and broadcastby a third radio station; sending a preview request to a server thatmaintains a reference database containing a plurality of referencefingerprints, wherein the preview request includes the queryfingerprints corresponding to the batch of second channels; receiving,from the server, first identifying information corresponding to a firstreference fingerprint of the plurality of reference fingerprints thatmatches the first query fingerprint and second identifying informationcorresponding to a second reference fingerprint of the plurality ofreference fingerprints that matches the second query fingerprint; andwhile the media playback device is playing back the first contentreceived on the first channel, providing at least a portion of the firstidentifying information and at least a portion of the second identifyinginformation for display.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumof claim 17: wherein the first content is received using a first tunerof the media playback device, and wherein the set of acts furthercomprises receiving the second content using a second tuner of the mediaplayback device.
 19. A computing system configured for performing a setof acts comprising: while a media playback device is playing back firstcontent received on a first channel and broadcast by a first radiostation, generating query fingerprints corresponding to a batch ofsecond channels, wherein the query fingerprints corresponding to thebatch of second channels include a first query fingerprint generatedusing second content received on a second channel and broadcast by asecond radio station and a second query fingerprint generated usingthird content received on a third channel and broadcast by a third radiostation; sending a preview request to a server that maintains areference database containing a plurality of reference fingerprints,wherein the preview request includes the query fingerprintscorresponding to the batch of second channels; receiving, from theserver, first identifying information corresponding to a first referencefingerprint of the plurality of reference fingerprints that matches thefirst query fingerprint and second identifying information correspondingto a second reference fingerprint of the plurality of referencefingerprints that matches the second query fingerprint; and while themedia playback device is playing back the first content received on thefirst channel, providing at least a portion of the first identifyinginformation and at least a portion of the second identifying informationfor display.